half listening

when we petitioned General Colin Powell
that we should be dropping food,not bombs
to the starving children /civilians of Afghanistan
he sent down food parcels to be picked up
They were in the same bright yellow packaging cluster bombs came in
The ones that make so many legless in Afghanistan

when we suggested Dick Cheney might try "enhanced interrogation"
Noted Senator Cain's experiences of being tortured in Vietnam
Waterboarding and stress positions and assassinations continue
Guantanamo still open,as is Bagram Air Force Base

when we argue for libraries and pools and schools and parks staying open
Police complain about less overtime.Homeless still incarcerated

when we suggest that drones make remote murders
that civilians like us still die in undeclared warzones
that private security killers are on black budget government payrolls
no cuts are made in those budgets

we do not want wars/austerity.We want peace/prosperity!
Listening takes lifetimes.Our lives on every line